# Why do we wear underwear? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 9, 2002, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106 "2002-06-09T15:37:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/21 "2002-06-10T07:07:50Z")
In an average fortnight, I go through about 4 pants and about 10 pairs of underwear. Guess what would be easier to wash. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/22 "2002-06-10T13:08:11Z")
ugh. I don’t see how women can go without underwear. We women have natural vaginal secretions that are just a normal part of living day to day. I don’t wanna see crusties on the inside of my pants or the back-inside of my skirts, etc. Yick. Lorie ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/23 "2002-06-10T16:56:11Z")
So, **jarbabyj,** how YOU doin’? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/24 "2002-06-23T19:09:32Z")
Underwear is and was worn for warmth, and to protect outer clothes from grease, sweat, and secretions. Chemises, petticoats, and shirts were made of washable and cheaper fabric. Women have only worn drawers, panties or the equivalent for about 200 years- they were scandalous when they were first worn- much too “masculine”. They weren’t common until… oh, the 1860’s-70’s. So when you see those Victorian postcards with men hiding under hoopskirts and smirking, you know why they were smirking. When did it start? A very long time ago. Sorry, I only really know about Western fashion history. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/25 "2002-06-23T19:13:38Z")
Very broad overview. Much generalization. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/26 "2002-06-24T01:09:58Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t wear ‘em. Except for bras, which keep me from swingin’ around. I hate underpants. HATE 'EM > [@](#): > > I’m with jarbabyj here, count me out! Where can I meet a girl like you? 🙂 I seem to recall that turn-of-the-century women with their herringbone hoops covered with layer upon layer of petticoats didn’t wear panties (as depicted in the film “The Piano.”) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/27 "2002-06-24T01:18:26Z")
“Herringbone”? :smack: No, whalebone. No, I mean that flexible stuff. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/28 "2002-06-24T01:58:47Z")
**acsenray** , you’ve got to put those images out of your mind. Tell yourself “All women wear panties, all the time”. Repeat as neccessary. 🙂 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/29 "2002-06-24T02:53:50Z")
_The Piano_ was set earlier than the turn of the century, I’m guessing 1850’s, and yes, that was the very end of the no-pants time period. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/30 "2002-06-24T04:22:14Z")
… You guys realize that panties – or any sort of underwear covering the “north fork” of a lady’s legs – are a very recent development, right? As in, within the past century or two? For the great majority of history, women’s underwear consisted of petticoats and the like. ---
**Author:** ![loni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@loni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loni)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/31 "2002-06-24T04:39:49Z")
Just picture yourself in a place that has uncomfortable clothing and no toilet paper. Ugh! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/32 "2002-06-25T14:26:46Z")
> [@](#): > > acsenray, you’ve got to put those images out of your mind. Tell yourself “All women wear panties, all the time”. Repeat as neccessary. > > Peace, > mangeorge Aaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmm … ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106/33 "2002-06-25T15:02:29Z")
One of the reasons for women not wearing any form of pants was the volume of clothes they wore. If one wore drawers as well as three petticoats, a corset, and a chemise, it would be impossible to go to the bathroom. As it was (prior to 1850-ish) they could just squat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-wear-underwear/113106.md?page=1)